Sometimes people can be a tad bit superficial and think they must date someone who’s hot and sexy. As you mature and date more, however, you realise what’s inside a person is more important than what is outside.

The older you get, the smarter you become and you lose a part of your list. Here are 10 surprising elements that are NOT essential to a great partner …

1. Looks

When you’re 25, you think you need to date a supermodel. As you mature, you realise that chemistry can grow. You know that looks aren’t the most important quality in a partner.

2. Finances

As you grow older and wiser, you’re financially smarter. You’ve saved some money and you can take care of yourself. The financial status of your significant other isn’t as important as it used to be.

3. All shared interests

Your interests change as you grow. You have hobbies you love that you can do alone. You don’t desire to spend every single second with your partner. You enjoy your alone time so you can have your own hobbies and interests.

4. Age

In your twenties, you think age is a non-negotiable. As you grow up, you see that age doesn’t matter as much. You’re more open to a slight age gap.

Now, you realise age is just a number and there are commonalities with people of all different ages.

5. Height

Height matters when you’re young and have a whole laundry list of what you need in a partner.

As you meet more people, you appreciate that there are tons of great men and women who are a little shorter or taller than you’d like them to be. You’re more willing to meet someone fabulous, even if they’re not the ideal height.

6. Weight

As you experience new relationships, the desire to date someone with six-pack abs is not so essential. You know that people can always lose or gain weight. You understand that finding a good person is more important.

7. Career

As your dating circles are expanded, you’re aware that having a pre-conceived idea about your beau’s career limits yourself. As you grow wiser, the career of your significant other becomes irrelevant.

8. Religious habits

Once upon a time, dating someone within the same stream of religion might have been a non-negotiable. But, as time passes, you begin to think that sharing the same religious affiliation isn’t as important as sharing the same values.

9. Location

When you’re young and you imagine your life with your significant other, you think their location is important. As you become more settled in life and your career, you’re more open to dating someone who doesn’t live down the block.

10. Kids

If you ask any 25-year-old if they’ll date someone with kids, they’ll most likely say absolutely not. If you ask any 35-year-old the same question, their answer will be different.

As you evolve and learn more about yourself, you realize there are many things worse than dating someone with kids.

As you experience more things, you realize that being open-minded is the best way to fall in love.

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Our Team

Meet Our Team

CAPITAL LIFESTYLE is a global lifestyle platform for digital storytelling, premiering exclusive daily content. We are a curated destination for the culturally curious, a point of reference for leaders in media and style, and a platform committed to all things ‘living.’

Maureen Ojunga is the newest Health enthusiast in town. She is also a gadget freak and a lover of all things WINE! Besides being a lover of life, she enjoys writing Relationships and Sex pieces and is also an Interior design junkie.

Grace Njeri is a storyteller and lifestyle journalist who is all about infusing daily life issues into articles. She has a natural skill for trendy conversations about fashion, travel and entertainment. She is also the author of a personal blog ‘The Blendie’ where she serves up personality, energy and insights on life and more style.

Anne Mwaura is an outgoing lifestyle journalist who wants to spread a little joy and color to everyone she meets. Sarcastic, witty and slightly strange you will find her eating gourmet meals till the buttons pop, painting the world a brighter color because everyday is a blank canvas, traveling just to find herself jumping out of a plane and into the party. A Radio presenter and T.V host, the worlds her stage and she's going through it with a great playlist.